Forrestfield-Airport link unveiled
2:23

See how the WA Government plans to create a rail line to Perth Airport by 2020. Video: Public Transport Authority.

news.com.au

09 Aug 2014

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THE cost of the State Government’s much vaunted Forrestfield-Airport Link has blown out by $300 million, with Premier Colin Barnett revealing today the cost will be $2.2 billion.

Addressing the Liberal state conference Mr Barnett confirmed the project would start in 2016 and be finished in 2020.

It will see a rail line head east from the Midland Line near Bayswater Station then tunnel under the Swan River and Tonkin Highway before reaching the airport and going on to Forrestfield.

The rail project, which was put at $1.9 billion during the state election, will take the form of twin bored tunnels and will become the longest section of underground rail in Perth.

Three new stations will be built, transporting 20,000 passengers a year.

The Premier said the government would turn to government asset sales to help pay for the airport line, with state debt now at $22 billion – and growing.

Mr Barnett’s call for federal government funding for the project had fallen in deaf ears, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott saying he would not fund passenger rail projects.

The airport line was particularly important to service the eastern suburbs, Mr Barnett said.

“For the first time people will be able to catch a train to the airport and importantly, this will also open up a brand new rail corridor to the eastern suburbs and foothills, allowing a 20-minuted rail journey into the Perth central business district,” Mr Barnett said.

“The rail line will bring enormous benefits to airport passengers and staff working at the airport. In particular, this will be a boon for WA’s thousands of fly-in fly-out workers who will no longer have to drive to the airport and leave cars parked there for weeks on end.”

A decision to proceed with the airport link, instead of a $2 billion light rail project announced during the last election, has drawn criticism from infrastructure experts and the state opposition.

Just three years ago, the Department of Transport identified a light rail network linking Perth to Mirrabooka and out to the University of WA and Curtin University as a higher priority that an airport line – which was pencilled in for 2031.

Peter Newman, professor of sustainability at Curtin University, said a light rail system for Perth – shelved in December – would have been a better option to tackle Perth’s congestion problems than the airport project.

“If I put my rational hat on it (airport link) is not the most obvious thing to do next,” he said.

“Unquestionably light rail should have proceeded next.

“But in the world of politics you do what you have to win elections.”

Labor transport spokesman Ken Travers said Mr Barnett, in order to build the airport line, had canned the light rail and other infrastructure projects which would have “resulted in up to four times as many people using public transport”.

Transport Minister Dean Nalder admitted the accurate cost of the airport project would not be known for some time.

The route will go past the airport to Forrestfield.Source: Supplied

An artist impression of the underground train.Source: Supplied

“Until this goes out to tender we won’t know the accurate, specific cost,” he said.

“This ($2.2 billion) is our best estimate at this point.

“We have indicated that our dent levels are starting to get uncomfortable and that we will be looking to fund a lot of infrastructure through asset sales.”

Mr Barnett told state conference the Commonwealth Government needed to do more to change the current GST rules – which saw Western Australia subsidise other states to the tune of $3.7 billion a year.

He said land sales, such as hospital sites, would go first in the government’s asset sale plan.

Mr Nalder said he would announce further details of the airport rail project in coming days.

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